Orb in the Preakness: Churchill Downs Trainers Weigh In

5/16/2013

7:10 pm EDT

If you like Orb in the Preakness, you’re in good company with a contingent of trainers at Churchill Downs“I think you’ll see big races from Itsmyluckyday and Goldencents, but I don’t think anyone is going to beat Orb,” David Carroll said.

Carroll may be a little biased. After all, he is a former assistant to Shug McGaughey.

“I was at Belmont when Smarty Jones was going for the Triple Crown and it was the most electrifying atmosphere I’ve ever seen,” Carroll said.” If Orb were to win the Preakness, I would love to be up there for it. The atmosphere would be unbelievable.

Other horsemen at Churchill Downs picking Orb on top in the second jewel of the Triple Crown include Paul McGee, Jack Bohannon, Bret Calhoun, Norman Casse, Scooter Dickey, Brad Cox, Buff Bradley, Dale Romans and Phil Bauer. And wait til you see what Romans said.

“You’ve got to like Orb,” McGee said. “That’s who I think is going to win it.”

“I’ve got to stick with the Derby winner,” said Bohannon, who is the longtime assistant trainer to Rusty Arnold. “I’ll be pulling for a Triple Crown winner.”

“Orb is tons the best,” Calhoun said. “I think we’ve got a shot at a Triple Crown. He was the best horse all winter and proved it on Derby Day.”

“I like Orb and he is going to win the Triple Crown,” said Casse, assistant to his father, Mark.

“I like Orb,” Dickey said while sporting an Orb hat Thursday morning. “I watched him all winter and he’s the best I’ve seen.”

“I think Orb is the horse,” Cox said. “A lot of people like Al Stall’s horse (Departing) and I think he’ll run well too.”

“I like Orb and one reason is because Shug is so high on him,” Bradley said.

“I think Orb is going to win the Preakness and I think he’ll win the Triple Crown,” Romans said. “I’ve never said that about another horse.”